Well finally after a couple of months of troubles with internet, a new job and some holidays I managed to come once again back to the MS, which now seems to be working in the 3rd edition.
And since it was such a long break, I thought my first post should be something special... So here it is, an interview a friend of mine and me did about a month ago when I managed to see JZ live for the first time here in Slovenia, when he was playing at the Sindustry festival...
So you made your big break through in Ibiza if that's correct. But my question is, where were you playing before and how hard was it to become known by party people all over the world?
JZ: I used to just play in my hometown of Southampton. I was a resident in a local club. And I won a music competition which propelled me a little bit. But what really propelled me was getting a tape to Lee Burridge and he gave the tape to Sasha and then things started to happen by playing in Ibiza. I think before Sasha had listened to my tape, it was kind of tough. I was giving around lots of tapes and not really getting anywhere. Now it's obviously paid off, giving out all the tapes. It's easier now, because you have the internet and you can get a lot of good music and you can put your mixes on the message boards and all.
How old were you when you started playing?
JZ: I did a school disco when I was 15.
I heard only the best about the dynamics you put in your music. Did you develop a ?universal? style that drives most of the people on the dancefloor mad?JZ:I don't know. I just play a bit of everything I guess. I like all sorts of music, anything from breakbeat, to house, to techno and back again, melodic stuff, acid stuff, all sorts. I guess that not having a style is a style in itself.
What kind of music did you play, when you started playing?
JZ: Normally when you get into dance music you play more commercial stuff, but then you get bored of the same old stuff and you start to play more ?reasonable? music.
One ?stupid? question. Using three or more turntables is quite common in electronic dance music, especially techno. Do you think that a really good set can be played on only three or more turntables?
JZ: No, but it's nice to have three, because then you've got the option to use one deck as a slave for playing samples and loops. It just allows more creativity and I guess if the DJ's having fun, being creative, then the people are going to have fun as well.
Sasha once proclaimed that you are the king of the dance floors. Who do you think is the modern king of dancefloors?
JZ: Hmmm. I don't know. I guess I should say Sasha (laughter).
So you are ?big? friends?
JZ: Yeah, we are. Good friends.
Is music your only occupation and your only field of work?
JZ: Yes, it is. I used to be a designer and I still dable in that a little bit, but I don't do that much of that anymore. With the DVJ machine Pioneer's just made I get to experiment with the visuals and my girlfriend is also an artist, so we make the visuals together.
And where is she?
JZ: Oh, she's at home. Making visuals for Sander Kleinenberg.
And what are you planning for this year for your production besides visuals with your girlfriend?
JZ: I write music on my laptop and do remixes of things, so just a bit more of that. And I'll continue to tour for the next few months to promote this CD Alive on Rennesaince.
Where do you get your inspiration. Does it depend on your feeling, your everyday expiriences or you just ?sit down and make music??
JZ: I think all of those, really. It really depends on everything. A lot of music I make is in the hotel rooms on my laptop, so it's a good thing to do. Like playing a computer game.
So laptoop is all you need? You don't have any samplers or any other stuff?
JZ: Not when I'm travelling. Only when I'm at home.
Since we had only 5 minutes this is all we could "get out" of JZ...
And since it was such a long break, I thought my first post should be something special... So here it is, an interview a friend of mine and me did about a month ago when I managed to see JZ live for the first time here in Slovenia, when he was playing at the Sindustry festival...
So you made your big break through in Ibiza if that's correct. But my question is, where were you playing before and how hard was it to become known by party people all over the world?
JZ: I used to just play in my hometown of Southampton. I was a resident in a local club. And I won a music competition which propelled me a little bit. But what really propelled me was getting a tape to Lee Burridge and he gave the tape to Sasha and then things started to happen by playing in Ibiza. I think before Sasha had listened to my tape, it was kind of tough. I was giving around lots of tapes and not really getting anywhere. Now it's obviously paid off, giving out all the tapes. It's easier now, because you have the internet and you can get a lot of good music and you can put your mixes on the message boards and all.
How old were you when you started playing?
JZ: I did a school disco when I was 15.
I heard only the best about the dynamics you put in your music. Did you develop a ?universal? style that drives most of the people on the dancefloor mad?JZ:I don't know. I just play a bit of everything I guess. I like all sorts of music, anything from breakbeat, to house, to techno and back again, melodic stuff, acid stuff, all sorts. I guess that not having a style is a style in itself.
What kind of music did you play, when you started playing?
JZ: Normally when you get into dance music you play more commercial stuff, but then you get bored of the same old stuff and you start to play more ?reasonable? music.
One ?stupid? question. Using three or more turntables is quite common in electronic dance music, especially techno. Do you think that a really good set can be played on only three or more turntables?
JZ: No, but it's nice to have three, because then you've got the option to use one deck as a slave for playing samples and loops. It just allows more creativity and I guess if the DJ's having fun, being creative, then the people are going to have fun as well.
Sasha once proclaimed that you are the king of the dance floors. Who do you think is the modern king of dancefloors?
JZ: Hmmm. I don't know. I guess I should say Sasha (laughter).
So you are ?big? friends?
JZ: Yeah, we are. Good friends.
Is music your only occupation and your only field of work?
JZ: Yes, it is. I used to be a designer and I still dable in that a little bit, but I don't do that much of that anymore. With the DVJ machine Pioneer's just made I get to experiment with the visuals and my girlfriend is also an artist, so we make the visuals together.
And where is she?
JZ: Oh, she's at home. Making visuals for Sander Kleinenberg.
And what are you planning for this year for your production besides visuals with your girlfriend?
JZ: I write music on my laptop and do remixes of things, so just a bit more of that. And I'll continue to tour for the next few months to promote this CD Alive on Rennesaince.
Where do you get your inspiration. Does it depend on your feeling, your everyday expiriences or you just ?sit down and make music??
JZ: I think all of those, really. It really depends on everything. A lot of music I make is in the hotel rooms on my laptop, so it's a good thing to do. Like playing a computer game.
So laptoop is all you need? You don't have any samplers or any other stuff?
JZ: Not when I'm travelling. Only when I'm at home.
Since we had only 5 minutes this is all we could "get out" of JZ...
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